In 1967, our first summer camp for the blind was held in High Springs Florida, at Camp Kulaqua. This camp became reality due to the planning of one individual. Ray Hubbart, an employee of Christian Record Services, became acquainted with Norman Middag, who worked with directing camps for the youth.
Hubbart took this idea to the board, but they only smiled. The idea of a camp for blind people was out of the question. However, the board finally agreed to let him do it on one condition: He had to raise the money himself. On weekends and evenings, he spoke at civic clubs, churches, and other organizations to raise the necessary funds.
Raising the money for summer camps wasn't difficult. The hard part was finding the campers to go to camp! Many parents would not hear of the idea. Some of the responses were: "What are you talking about? Camp! My child is blind," or "No thank you, I love my child too much for such as that!" Gradually a list was compiled of applications, and on opening day, 23 anxious but happy youngsters arrived at camp for the first time and participated in hiking, horseback riding, water skiing, archery, crafts, and wall-climbing.
It didn't take long for the camping program to expand. In 1968, a camp for the blind was conducted in Michigan. The attendance at these two camps in 1970 was 178. Many areas of the country began asking for camps. In 1971 Ray Hubbart became Director of National Camps for Blind Children. Eleven camps were held in 1972 for 700 children. The camping program has grown. Winter Camps started in 1980 at Winter Park, Colorado. They include activities such as downhill and cross-country skiing.
National Camps for Blind Children now holds camps across the United States and Canada. In the past 39 years, over 46,000 campers have attended National Camps for Blind Children, a model program providing free camps for the blind and visually disabled.